Ring dosimeters are issued to individuals at risk of exceeding a minimum extremity dose of what per year?

The use of ring dosimeters is integral in monitoring radiation exposure to extremities, particularly for personnel working with radioactive materials or in settings such as medical facilities where radiation is frequently used. The threshold for issuing ring dosimeters is typically based on a concern for minimizing risk and ensuring safety compliance.

A minimum extremity dose of 5,000 mRem (or 5 rem) per year is significant enough to warrant additional monitoring. This level is set to detect changes in radiation exposure and to prompt necessary safety measures if an individual’s exposure approaches or exceeds this threshold. In context, the 5,000 mRem per year standard reflects a balance between operational requirements in areas with potential high radiation exposure and the necessity to protect workers from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

In contrast, lower thresholds, such as 1,000 mRem, may not adequately account for higher exposure scenarios that could occur in certain medical or industrial workplaces, making it ineffective for robust monitoring. Similarly, thresholds like 10,000 mRem or 50 mSv are either excessively high for standard monitoring practices or translate to a more stringent exposure level than commonly required for day-to-day operations. Therefore, the issuance of ring dosimeters specifically at the 5,000 m